Graduate Research Competitions
The Title Vb Grant Supports Various Opportunities for Graduate Students to Present Their Research.
This includes sponsoring the annual CSUB (California State University, Bakersfield) Grad Slam / 3MT competition and supporting student participation in the annual CSUB Student Research Competition, the annual WAGS (Western Association of Graduate Schools) Grad Slam / 3 MT competition, and the annual CSU (California State University) Grad Slam / 3 MT competition. All graduate students funded through the Graduate Collaborative Research Program (GCRP) are required to participate in the CSUB Grad Slam / 3MT competition and CSUB Student Research Competition. In addition, the Graduate STEM TSSR program provides financial support for CSUB STEM graduate students who are presenting at a conference/event.
AY 2024 - 2025
Biology
Seasonal Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Environments and Biota Linked with Land-use and Species Traits
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Second Place: Microplastic Seasonal Variation in Coastal Shellfish and Sediments Linked with Estuary Protection Status and Watershed Anthropogenic Development
Investigating watersheddominant land use (e.g., urban, agriculture) and seasonal effects on microplastics abundance and composition in estuarine shellfish and sediments.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Biology
Uncovering the Genes Involved in the Motility of the Bacterium Rhodococcus Fascians
Advisor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Determining the Role of A-factor in the Bacterium Rhodococcus Fascians D188
The study explores how A-factor relieves TetR repressing to trigger motility in Rhodococcus fascians D188, revealing the molecular mechanism behind this recently discovered trait.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Biology
Identification of Mycorrhizal Species in Symbiosis with Locally Grown Carrots
Advisor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Identification of Mycorrhizal in Symbiosis with Locally grown Carrots
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Biology
Second Place: From Headwaters to the Valley: Investigating the River Continuum Concept in an Arid Environment
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: From Headwaters to The Valley: Investigating How Land Cover Changes Affect Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Taxonomic and Functional Diversity In An Arid Environment
We are investigating how changes in land cover along an elevation gradient influence macroinvertebrate communities in the non-perennial stream systems located in California's arid climate
Faculty Mentor: Dr. RaeMcNeish
Biology
A Comparative Study of the Effects of Artifical Light on San Joaquin Kit Foxes in Urban and Non-Urban Environments
Advisor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
A Comparative Study of the Effects of Artificial Light on San Joaquin Kit Foxes in Urban and Non-Urban Environments
This project aims to determine whether light pollution influences the behavior of the endangered San Joaquin kit fox
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Biology
First Place: Factors Influencing Seedling Recruitment of Valley Oaks (Quercus lobata) in the Southern San Joaquin Valley
Advisor: Dr. R. Brandon Pratt
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Factors Limiting Seedlig Recruitment of Valley Oaks (Quercus lobata) in the Southern San Joaquin Valley
Faculty Mentor: Dr. R. Brandon Pratt
Biology
Do Rocket Launces Influnce the Nesting Success of California Least Terns and Western Snowy Plovers?
Advisor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Do Rocket Launches Influence the Nesting Ecology of California Least Terns (Sternula antillarum browni) and Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus nivosus)?
Analysis of the nest success of California least terns and western snowy plovers as a function of rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Biology
The Mystery of Macrobdella decora
Advisor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
The Mystery of Macrobdella decora
This research seeks to explore the relationship between Macrobdella decora and the eastern newt. It also seeks to further the understanding of the biology Macrobdella decora via field work and TTX extraction
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
AY 2023 - 2024
Biology
CSUB 2023 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 5th Annual Grad Slam 2023
Seasonal Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments and Biota Across Land-Use
Gradients.
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Second Place: Microplastic Seasonal Variation in Coastal Shellfish and Sediments Linked with Estuary
Protection Status and Watershed Anthropogenic Development
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Link to Student Research Competition
Biology
Link to CSUB 5th Annual Grad Slam 2023
Does the River Continuum Concept Apply to an Elevation Gradient in an Arid Environment?
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
From Headwaters to the Valley: Investigating the River Continuum Concept in the Arid
Environment
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Link to Student Research Competition
Biology
Link to CSUB 5th Annual Grad Slam 2023
First Place: Invasive Tree of Heaven Leaf Decomposition in Freshwater Ecosystems and Impacts on Macroinvertebrate Communities
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
WAGS 2024 3MT Competition, CSU 2024 Grad Slam Competition: Link to CSU website
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: Terrestrial-Aquatic Connections: Invasive Ailanthus altissima leaf decomposition in freshwater ecosystems and impacts on macroinvertebrate communities
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Link to Student Research Competition
Biology
Link to CSUB 5th Annual Grad Slam 2023
Second Place: Shedding Light on Nocturnal Carnivores: How Artificial Light Affects San Joaquin Kit Fox Behavior
Advisor: Dr. Lucas Hall
CSU 2024 Grad Slam: Link to CSU website
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Effects of Artificial Light at Night on the Behavior of the San Joaquin Kit Fox
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Link to Student Research Competition
Kinesiology
Link to CSUB 5th Annual Grad Slam 2023
The Effects of Chronic Supplementation on Cardiovascular Function, Lower Body Strength, Fall Risk in Older Adults
Advisor: Dr. Jahyun Kim
Student Research Competiton 2024: Health, Nutrition, and Clinical Services - Graduate Student
First Place: Chronic Creatine Supplementation Improves Strength but not Arterial Stiffness: A Case Study
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jahyun Kim
Link to Student Research Competition
Healthcare Administration
Link to CSUB 5th Annual Grad Slam 2023
The Impact of Technology on Long-Term Care
Advisor: Dr. Anthony Pallitto
Student Research Competiton 2024: Business, Economics, & Public Administration - Graduate Student (Healthcare Administration)
Challenges of Assisted Living Organizations: Assessing Healthcare Policies Impact on Assisted Living Quality: A Qualitative Case Study Approach
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anthony Pallitto
Link to Student Research Competition
AY 2022 - 2023
Geological Sciences
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Determining the Origin and Formation of NWA 11788: A New Lunar Meteorite
Student Research Competition 2023: Physical & Mathematical Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: Petrography and geochemistry of lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 11788: A feldspathic
regolith breccia
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Katie O'Sullivan
Kinesiology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Chronic Remote Ischemic Preconditioning (RIPC): Attenuates Arterial Stiffness and
Changes Hemodynamic Measures in Prehypertensive Individuals
Student Research Competition 2023: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
First Place: Repeated remote ischemic preconditioning attenuates arterial stiffness and hemodynamic
measures in healthy young prehypertensive adults
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jahyun Kim
Biology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Using Habitat Restoration Treatment in an Effort to Manage and Save an Imperiled Species
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Determining effective management techniques for the endangered San Joaquin Valley
giant flower-loving fly (Rhaphiomidas trochilus)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Biology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Tree of Heaven Leaf Decomposition in Aquatic Ecosystems
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Terrestrial-aquatic concerns: Differential leaf litter decomposition and impacts on
freshwater macroinvertebrate communities between invasive and native plant species
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Biology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
From Shrubs to Weeds to Shrubs Again: Restoring Type-Converted Chaparral
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
The effects of shade and soil on a facultative seeder shrub: implications for chaparral
restoration
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon Pratt
History
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Second Place: To the Annoyance of His Fellow Patients: Mental Health in 19th Century America
Student Research Competition 2023: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student
Sweet and Stinking Scents: Sensory History of Reproduction in Early Modern England
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kate Mulry
Biology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery: North American Medicinal Leech and Eastern
Newt
Healthcare Administration
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Build My Diet Health App: Project Management Mobile Healthcare App
Kinesiology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
First Place: Pregnancy Brain is Real and There Might Be Something We Can Do About It
WAGS 2023 3MT Competition
CSU 2023 Grad Slam Competition: Link to CSU website
Biology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Let It Glow: Biofluorescence in Taricha Granulosa
CSU 2023 Grad Slam: Link to CSU Website
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Let it Glow: Biofluorescence in Taricha Granulosa
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Link to Student Research Competition
Counseling Psychology
CSUB 2022 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 4th Annual Grad Slam 2022
Exploring Masculinity and Body Image of Men
Student Research Competition 2023: Behavioral & Social Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: Exploring Men's Ideal Self
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Luis Vega
AY 2021 - 2022
Biology
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Triggering Tetrodotoxin Movement in Newts with LH-RH
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Identification of a tetrodotoxin binding protein in Taricha granulosa
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Biology
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Plastic and Natural Leaf Breakdown in Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Second Place: Plastic and natural leaf degradation in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Biology
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
First Place: The Effect of Fire on Bat Activity in Sequoia and Kings Canyon
WAGS 2022 3MT Competition, Finalist: CSU 2022 Grad Slam - Link to CSU website
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: The effects of fire on bat activity in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anna Doty
Biology
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Second Place: Flashy Fluorescence
CSU 2022 Grad Slam Competition: Link to CSU website
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
To glow or not to glow: Biofluorescence in Taricha granulosa
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Biology
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Searching for Valley Fever in Marine Mammals and on the Channel Islands
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Searching for Coccidioides on California's Channel Islands
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Antje Lauer
Biology
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Unknown Unken
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Exploring Unken Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Nursing
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Do Nurses Provide Comprehensive Diabetic Education on Medications, Diet, Exercise, and Preventive Measures?
Student Research Competition 2022: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
Comprehensive Diabetic Education
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Annie Boehning
Nursing
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Assessment of Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Student Research Competition 2022: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
First Place: Assessment of Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Annie Boehning
Educational Leadership
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Examining Faculty Attrition During the Pandemic
Nursing
CSUB 2021 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 3rd Annual Grad Slam 2021
Burnout/Compassion Fatigue Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Student Research Competition 2022: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
Burnout/Compassion Fatigue Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Heidi He
AY 2020- 2021
Biology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Exploring the Biocontrol Potential of Streptomyces Species Against Pythium Violae- A Dominant Carrot Pathogen
CSU 2021 Grad Slam Competition: Link to CSU website
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: Exploring the biocontrol potential of Streptomyces isolates against Pythium violae,
a dominant carrot pathogen
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Nursing
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Benefits of Nappinng Among Night Shift Workers
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: Benefits of Napping Among Night Shift Workers
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Annie Boehning
Biology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Investigating the Role of Unique Plant Hormones in Rhodococcus fascians Pathogenicity
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Investigating the role of methylated cytokinins in Rhodococcus fascians pathogenicity
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Biology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Fishing for Proteins
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Identification of a TTX binding protein in Taricha granulosa
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Counseling Psychology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Examining Reflections of Parent-Child Communication Surrounding Mental Health: A Qualitative
Dyadic Exploration
Student Research Competition 2021: Behavioral & Social Sciences - Graduate Student
Reflections of Parent-Child Communication Surrounding Mental Health: A Qualitative
Dyadic Study
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richard Zamora
Biology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Riverine Litter: Bridges Impact the Distribution of Anthropogenic Litter in a Freshwater
River
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Anthropogenic structures impact the abundance and distribution of anthropogenic litter
and microplastics in an intermittent river
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Biology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Unraveling the 1st Step in the Streptomyces Scabies Pathology: How Does the Pathogen
Sense it is in the Vicinity of a Living Root?
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Unraveling the first step in the Streptomyces scabies pathology: how does the pathogen
sense it is in the vicinity of a living root?
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Isolde
Geological Sciences
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Geochemical Analysis of a New Lunar Meteorite From North Western Africa
Student Research Competition 2021: Physical & Mathematical Sciences - Graduate Student
Petrographic and Geochemical Analysis of a New Lunar Meteorite from Northwestern Africa
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Katie O'Sullivan
History
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
First Place: Maoism and the Chicano Movement
WAGS 2021 3MT Competition
Student Research Competition 2021: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student
Second Place: Maoism and the Chicano Movement
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Tang
Student Research Competition 2022: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student
First Place: Humor and Housewives in the Postwar United States
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stepen Allen
Biology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
Recently Revealed Motility of Rhodococcus fascians
Biology
CSUB 2020 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 2nd Annual Grad Slam 2020
How low do they go? Investigating plant rooting depth as a factor of drought mortality
CSU 2021 Grad Slam Competition: Link to CSU website
AY 2019 - 2020
Biology
CSUB 2019 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 1st Annual Grad Slam 2019
Don’t Eat Me!: Antipredator Responses in the Rough-Skinned Newt
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Environmental Effects on the Antipredator Response of the Rough-Skinned Newt
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Biology
CSUB 2019 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 1st Annual Grad Slam 2019
Vascular Structure and Hydraulic Function in the Stems and Roots of Shrubs
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: Xylem structure and hydraulic function in the roots and stems of chaparral shrub species
in the Sierra Nevada
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anna Jacobsen
Biology
CSUB 2019 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 1st Annual Grad Slam 2019
The Effect of Drought on Water Transport Within Plants
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Balancing different functional demands in plant vascular tissue: Do conduit connections
affect embolism propagation and transport efficiency?
Faculty Mentor: Dr. R. Brandon Pratt
Counseling Psychology
CSUB 2019 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 1st Annual Grad Slam 2019
The Meaning of Creativity Using a Cultural Lens
Student Research Competition 2020: Behavioral & Social Sciences - Graduate Student
The Meaning of Creativity Using a Cultural Lens
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richard Zamora
Biology
CSUB 2019 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 1st Annual Grad Slam 2019
Soil Bacteria and Ant Interactions with Fava Bean
English
CSUB 2019 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 1st Annual Grad Slam 2019
Borrowing from Shakespeare: Intertextuality in Louise Erdrich’s The Round House
Student Research Competition 2020: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student
The Precursor Effect of Shakespeare on Louise Erdrich’s Trilogy
One Book, One World: International Book Club Building an Academic Community Beyond
Borders
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Monica Ayuso and Dr. Emerson Case
Biology
CSUB 2019 Grad Slam
Link to CSUB 1st Annual Grad Slam 2019
Using Stable Isotopes to Determine Water Sources of Woody Plants
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Identifying rooting depth patterns of chaparral shrubs using stable isotopes
Faculty Mentor: Dr. R. Brandon Pratt
